Process of conveying cigarettes or other rod-like articles

ABSTRACT

A buffer store for filled and empty cigarette containers is provided between a cigarette making machine and a cigarette packing machine so that either of the machines may be kept running if the other stops. In one example the buffer store consists of separate cigarette loading and unloading stations between which the cigarette containers are carried in trolleys. In a further example, the loading and unloading stations are combined into a single unit which is adapted to either load or unload containers, depending on the operating conditions of the machines, the containers again being carried in trolleys.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 681,247, filedApr. 28, 1976, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,637, issued July 11, 1978, whichis a division of application Ser. No. 276,302, filed May 15, 1975, nowU.S. Pat. No. 3,967,740, issued July 6, 1976.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling articles, e.g.,rod-like articles such as cigarettes. The invention is applicable incircumstances where articles are made by one machine and then arerequired to be transported to another machine for further treatment orfor packing in boxes, packets or the like.

In the transport of articles between a making machine and a packingmachine, for example, it may well be desirable to provide facilities forstoring a quantity of the articles in transit, so that there is a bufferstore between the machines so that if either of the machines is stoppedfor any reason the other may continue in operation for some time. It isan object of the present invention to provide apparatus for handlingarticles, e.g., cigarettes, which may be employed to transport articlesfrom a making machine to a packing machine and which may be arranged toprovide such a buffer store.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for handlingarticles including means for feeding a first stream of such articles,means operable to separate successive leading end portions of said firststream from said first stream to form successive batches of articles,means for inserting each batch of articles into a container at a loadingstation, means for removing each batch of articles from said containerat an unloading station, and means for feeding the removed batches awayfrom said unloading station as a second stream of articles.

The batches may be so formed from the first stream of articles that eachbatch is sufficient to fill a container; preferably the containers eachcomprise a plurality of compartments and the batches are such that onebatch is so dimensioned as to fill one compartment.

At the loading station of apparatus as above defined there is preferablyprovided means for intermittently driving the means for feeding thefirst stream, dividing means associated with said feeding means, saiddividing means being operable to separate a leading end portion fromsaid first stream to form a batch, conveyor means driven in synchronismwith said feeding means for conveying said container intermittentlytowards a loading position, and means for moving the batch of articlesformed by the separated leading end portion from said feeding means intosaid container whilst said feeding means and said conveyor means arestationary.

The feeding means may comprise an endless conveyor provided with dividerplates which can be either retracted below the conveyor or projectedtherethrough to separate adjoining portions of a continuous stream ofarticles on the conveyor to form batches. The divider plates are sodisposed and operated that the length of each portion of the streamseparated to form a batch matches one dimension of the container whilethe other dimensions of the container are matched by the height of thestream and the length of the articles. Where as is preferred eachcontainer has two or more compartments then it is preferred to arrangethat the height of each compartment matches the height of the stream.

In one form of apparatus embodying the invention a common station mayserve as both the loading station and the unloading station; one endlessconveyor then serves both as the means for feeding the first stream andas the means for feeding the second stream, said conveyor being operableto feed articles in one direction prior to each operation of a loadingpusher serving as the inserting means and operable to feed articles inthe reverse direction after each operation of an unloading pusherserving as the removing means.

In order that the invention may be well understood, a preferredembodiment thereof will now be described, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of one form of apparatus embodyingthe invention, for handling cigarettes;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a container for use with the apparatus of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a section on the line III--III of FIG. 2, drawn to a largerscale;

FIG. 4 is a view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken in thedirection of arrow IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but with some parts shown indifferent positions;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged and more detailed view of part of the apparatusshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 7, with some partsomitted;

FIG. 9 is a view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken in thedirection of arrow IX of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are views similar to FIG. 10, but with some parts shownin different positions;

FIG. 13 is a section on the line XIII--XIII of FIG. 11,

FIG. 14 shows a modified form of apparatus for conveying containersbetween loading and unloading stations;

FIG. 15 is a view taken in the direction of arrow XV--XV of FIG. 14 withsome parts omitted;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of an arrangement of making and packing machinesusing separate loading and unloading stations for the containers;

FIG. 17 is a diagram of a further arrangement of making and packingmachines using a combined loading and unloading station for thecontainers;

FIG. 18 is a view, partly in section, of a modified form of container;

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic front view of a combined loading and unloadingstation for use with the machine arrangement of FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 19,looking in the direction of arrow XX of FIG. 19, and including someextra parts.

FIG. 20A is a schematic diagram of electrical circuits embodying thevarious switches and electric motors included in the apparatus of FIGS.19 and 20.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the apparatus shown comprises anintermittently driven down-feed conveyor 1, a cigarette loading station2 positioned alongside the conveyor 1 near its lower end, a stationaryplatform 3 and a reciprocating pusher 4, both of which are positionedadjacent the lower end of the conveyor 1. On the same level as, andforming a continuation of, the platform 3, is a continuously drivencross-feed conveyor 5 at the downstream end of which a stop 6 isprovided. An intermittently driven up-feed conveyor 7 extends upwardlyfrom the downstream end of the conveyor 5 and a further reciprocatingpusher 8 is positioned adjacent the upper end of the conveyor 7. Mountedadjacent the conveyor 7 at a position below the pusher 8 is a cigaretteunloading station 9. A further continuously driven cross-feed conveyor10 extends from a position between the pusher 8 and unloading station 9to a position adjacent the down-feed conveyor 1. A pair of retractablestops 11 are positioned at the downstream end of the conveyor 10.

The above apparatus serves for circulating containers 12 in succession,around a closed path so that cigarettes may be loaded into thecontainers 12 at station 2 and unloaded at station 9. Before describingthe construction and operation of the apparatus in detail, a suitableform of container 12 will be described.

A container 12 is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 and consists of anopen fronted box-like structure having a back wall 13, two side walls14, a top wall 15 and a bottom wall 16. Three internal partitions 17 aremounted parallel to the walls 15, 16 at regular spacings so as to dividethe interior of the container into four compartments 18 of equal height.The front top corner of each of the partitions 17 and the bottom wall 16are chamfered, as shown at 19, to facilitate the loading and unloadingof cigarettes into and out of the compartments 17. Fixed to theunder-surface of the top wall 15 and each of the partitions 17 is a thinstrip 20 of plastic or steel which is lightly sprung away from thesurface to which it is attached. The purpose of such strips 20 willbecome apparent later when the operation of the apparatus is described.Protruding from the outside surface of each of the side walls 14 is alug 21.

Empty containers 12 are fed intermittently in succession verticallydownwards, as shown by arrow A (FIG. 1), by the conveyor 1 whichcomprises a pair of endless chain conveyors 1a, 1b arranged one on eachside of the containers 12 and provided with fingers 22 on which thecontainers 12 are supported between the conveyors 1a, 1b as shown inFIG. 4. The conveyors 1a, 1b are supported by pairs of sprockets 23, 24,and are driven intermittently from a drive unit shown diagrammaticallyat 25 in FIG. 4, in steps each equal to the height of one compartment ofa container 12. Thus at successive times when the conveyors 1a, 1b, cometo rest successive compartments 18 of a container 12 are in position tobe filled with cigarettes at the loading station 2, as will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.

The cigarette loading station 2 comprises an endless conveyor 26provided with divider plates 27 which can be projected through theconveyor 26 so as to subdivide a continuous stream 28 of cigarettes onthe conveyor 26 into batches. The height of stream 28 and the spacingbetween plates 27 are such that each batch is of approximately the sameheight and length as a compartment 18. The conveyor 26 consists of apair of chains 29 which support a plurality of slats 30 which togetherform a surface for carrying the stream of cigarettes 28. Each dividerplate 27 is provided at its lower end (as viewed in FIG. 7) with a block31 which runs in grooves 32 formed in arms 33, one such arm beingcarried by each of the chains 29. The slats 30 are fixed to the chainand are plain; special slats 30a are provided at positions where adivider plate 27 is fitted, each slat 30a being formed with a slot 34(FIG. 8) through which the corresponding plate 27 can pass. Each block31 carries a cam follower 35 which contacts a fixed cam 36 which causeseach plate 27 to project upwardly through a slot 34 at the appropriatetime. Each plate 27 is biased by a spring 37 to the position in which itis retracted below the slats 30. The conveyor 26 is drivenintermittently, in synchronism with the conveyors 1a, 1b from the driveunit 25, so that each time it comes to rest a batch of cigarettes ispositioned opposite a compartment 18.

In operation, cigarettes are fed, from one or more cigarette makingmachines, in any convenient manner along a path 38, on to the surface ofthe slats 30 on which they are formed into the continuous stream 28which is then fed by the conveyor 26 in the direction of arrow B (FIG.4), the height of the stream being approximately equal to the height ofa compartment 17. As the conveyor 26 carries the stream 28 along, eachcam follower 35 in turn contacts the cam 36 and the corresponding plate27 will be projected up through the associated slot 34 and progressivelythrough the stream 28 of cigarettes. The part of the cam 36 which causesthis movement of the plates 27 is stepped, as shown at 39, so that theplate 27 is pushed through the cigarettes in a succession of smallmovements which causes less disturbance of the cigarettes than if thecam were not stepped and the plates 27 pushed through the stream in onecontinuous movement. A divider plate 27 is shown in chain-dot lines at40 in an intermediate position between its fully retracted and fullyprojected positions.

Movement of the conveyor 26 and the stream 28 continues until twosuccessive plates 27 have been projected right through the stream 28 atwhich time a batch of cigarettes will be contained between the twoplates 27. In FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 two such plates shown at 27a, 27b, havereached a position such that the batch of cigarettes contained betweenthem is opposite a compartment 18 in a container 12 and when thiscondition occurs the conveyor 26 is stopped. It should of course benoted that the conveyors 1a, 1b and thus a container supported thereonare also stopped at the same time. Whilst the conveyors 1a, 1b and 26are stationary a reciprocating pusher 41 is operated, by any convenientmeans, to push the batch of cigarettes off the conveyor 26 and into thewaiting compartment 18, a short bridge 42, having side pieces 43 beingpositioned between the conveyor 26 and the container 12 to support thecigarettes during transfer. The pusher 41 is then withdrawn and theconveyors 26 and 1 again start to move until the next batch ofcigarettes is formed and positioned, and the container 12 moved, so thatthe next compartment can be loaded in the same way as just described.

As a batch of cigarettes is pushed into a compartment 18 the top of thebatch will contact and lift the thin strips 20 which, after the batchhas been fully pushed into the compartment, exert a light pressure onthe top row of cigarettes in the batch to prevent any tendency of thecigarettes to move about and become misaligned.

After the conveyor 26 starts to move again, the plate 27a will beretracted by the spring 37 as its associated follower 35 descends theleft-hand end of the cam 36 (FIG. 4).

It will be seen from FIG. 4 that the spacing of the fingers 22 on theconveyors 1a, 1b is greater than the height of a container 12, so thatthe spacing between the last compartment 18 to be filled in onecontainer and the first compartment to be filled in the next succeedingempty container is greater than the spacing between successivecompartments in the same container. To allow for this difference thedrive to the conveyors 1a, 1b is such that every fourth stepwisemovement of the conveyors 1a, 1b is of a suitably greater length so thatthe first compartment of each container 12 is correctly positionedopposite the pusher 41 at the loading station 2.

After all the compartments 18 of a container 12 have been filled asdescribed above, the now full container continues to be fedintermittently downwardly by the conveyors 1a, 1b until it is depositedon the stationary platform 3, i.e. until it reaches the position P1(FIG. 1). When a container arrives at position P1 the pusher 4 isoperated, by any convenient means, to push the container off theplatform 3 and on to the cross-feed conveyor 5, which comprises a pairof narrow endless conveyor bands 5a, 5b (FIG. 4) which are supported bytwo pairs of rollers 44, 45 and driven continuously from a drive unitshown diagrammatically at 46 in FIG. 1. The upper runs of the conveyorbands 5a, 5b run over and are supported by fixed plates 47 (FIG. 4), thecontainer being carried horizontally in the direction of arrow B untilit engages the fixed stop 6. The container is thus stopped and theconveyor bands 5a, 5b will slip beneath it.

The filled containers 12 are then fed intermittently in successionvertically upwards, as shown by arrow C (FIG. 1) by the conveyor 7 whichcomprises a pair of chain conveyors 7a, 7b arranged one on each side ofthe containers 12 and provided with fingers 48 on which the containersare supported, as shown in FIG. 9. The conveyors 7a, 7b, which aresimilar to the conveyors 1a, 1b are supported by pairs of sprockets 49,50 and driven intermittently from a drive unit shown diagrammatically at51 in FIG. 9, in steps equal to the height of one compartment of acontainer 12. (As with fingers 22, the spacing of adjacent fingers 48exceeds the height of a container, hence as with the down-feed conveyorevery fourth step must be correspondingly larger than the height of onecompartment). Thus at successive times when the conveyors 7a, 7b come torest successive compartments 18 of a container 12 are in position tohave the batch of cigarettes contained therein removed at the unloadingstation 9, as will now be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12.

The cigarette unloading station 9 comprises an endless conveyor 52, theconstruction of which will not be described in detail as it is generallysimilar to the conveyor 26, previously described in relation to theloading station 2, in that it consists of a plurality of slats, some ofwhich are provided with slots through which plates 53 (FIG. 9) can bemoved, by a fixed cam 54, between a projecting position and a retractedposition below the level of the slats.

The mounting of the plates 53 is similar to that of the plates 27, butin the case of the plates 53 each plate is biased by a compressionspring (not shown) to the position in which it is fully projectedthrough its respective slot, the cam 54 causing retraction as required.The spacing between the plates 53 is the same as that of the plates 27i.e. the same as the length of a compartment 18, and the distance bywhich the plates 53 project above the conveyor 52 is equal to the heightof a batch of cigarettes.

The conveyor 52 is driven intermittently, in synchronism with theconveyors 7a, 7b from the drive unit 51, so that each time it comes torest a plate 53 is positioned opposite each side wall 14 of a container12.

In operation, when a pair of plates 53 reach the position just described(in FIG. 9 to 12 two such plates 53a, 53b are shown in this position)the conveyor 52 is stopped. At the same time the conveyors 7a, 7b andthus a container supported thereon, are also stopped so that a batch ofcigarettes in a compartment 18 is positioned opposite the space betweenthe plates 53a, 53b.

Whilst the conveyors 7a, 7b and 52 are stationary a scoop 55 (FIGS. 10to 13) is operated, by any convenient means, to remove the batch ofcigarettes from the compartment 18 and, in cooperation with a stripper56, place the batch on the slats of the conveyor 52 between the plates53a, 53b. The scoop 55 is U-shaped and has a bottom 57 and two sidewalls 58, the stripper 56 being of such a shape as to fit inside thescoop 55, and mounted so as to be movable relative to the scoop.

When the conveyors 1a, 1b and 52 are stopped, as mentioned above, thevarious parts are in the positions shown in FIG. 10. To remove the batchof cigarettes from a compartment 18 the scoop 55 and the stripper 56 aremoved across the conveyor 52, between the plates 53a, 53b towards thecontainer 12. Just as the stripper 56 comes into contact with the batchof cigarettes it is stopped, but the scoop 55 continues moving, so thatthe bottom 57 and side walls 58 enter the compartment 18 between thebatch and the respective walls 17 and 14 of the compartment, until itreaches the position shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 when it is stopped. Thechamfers 19 previously mentioned when describing the construction ofcontainers 12 ensure that the cigarettes in the compartment are notdamaged as the scoop, which is also chamfered on its leading edges,enters the compartment.

The scoop 55 and stripper 56 are now withdrawn from the compartment 18,the batch, which is now contained in the scoop 55, being removed at thesame time. This movement continues until the position shown in FIG. 12is reached, i.e. the batch of cigarettes is positioned over the conveyor52, at which time the stripper 56 is stopped, but the scoop 55 continuesmoving, which causes the scoop to be withdrawn from the batch ofcigarettes which is thus deposited onto the conveyor 52, between theplates 53, 53a.

The conveyors 7a, 7b and 52 start to move again until the nextcompartment and the next successive pair of plates 53 are in position sothat the batch of cigarettes contained in the compartment can be removedby another operation of the scoop 55 and stripper 56 in the manner justdescribed.

After a batch of cigarettes has been placed between plates 53a, 53b asabove described, when the conveyors 52 starts to move again the plate53a will be retracted below the level of the conveyor 52 by the cam 54and the leading end of the batch of cigarettes just placed on theconveyor will engage the trailing end of the previous batch ofcigarettes and form part of a continuous stream 59 of cigarettes whichis fed to the left, as viewed in FIG. 9, with the assistance of aconveyor band 60 engaging the upper surface of the stream 59, which band60 is driven intermittently in synchronism with the conveyor 52. Thecigarettes are then fed by a further continuously driven conveyor 61towards the hopper of a cigarette packing machine (not shown) via achute 62.

After all the compartments 18 of a container 12 have been emptied asdescribed above, the now empty container continues to be fedintermittently upwardly by the conveyors 7a, 7b until it reaches theposition P2 (FIG. 1), where it stops. Whilst the conveyors 7a, 7b andthe container are stationary the pusher 8 is operated, by any convenientmeans, to push the container off the fingers 48, across a short bridgeplate 63 and onto the further cross-feed conveyor 10. The conveyor 10comprises a pair of narrow bands 10a, 10b which are supported by twopairs of rollers 64, 65 and driven continuously from a drive unit showndiagrammatically at 66 in FIG. 1, the upper runs of the conveyor bands10a, 10b being supported by fixed plates 67, 68. In FIG. 1 only one ofthe bands 10a, 10b; rollers 64, 65; and fixed plates 67, 68 is visible.The container is carried by the bands 10a, 10b horizontally in thedirection of arrow D until the lugs 21 each engage a retractable stop11. The container is thus stopped and the conveyor bands 10a, 10b willslip beneath it.

The downstream end of the conveyor bands 10a, 10b, i.e. where they turnround the rollers 64, is positioned adjacent the upper end of thedown-feed chain conveyors 1a, 1b. When the conveyors 1a, 1b stop in sucha position that a pair of fingers 22 is opposite the conveyor bands 10a,10b the stops 11 are retracted from the position in which they areengaged by the lugs 21 on the container, and the container is fed, bythe conveyor bands 10a, 10b, on to the fingers 22, a further fixed stop69 (FIG. 1) being provided to ensure correct positioning of thecontainer on the fingers 22. The stops 11 are returned to their originalposition as soon as the container being moved onto the fingers 22 haspassed clear of the stops, so that they engage the lugs 21 on the nextsucceeding container being carried by the conveyor bands 10a, 10b.

The operation of the apparatus so far described is so arranged that acolumn of filled containers 12 is formed at the right hand end (asviewed in FIG. 1) of the cross-feed conveyor 5, with the leadingcontainer engaging the stop 6, so as to create a reserve R1. A similarreserve R2, but consisting of empty containers 12, is created at theleft hand end (as viewed in FIG. 1) of the further cross-feed conveyor10, the leading container engaging the retractable stops 11.

If for any reason one or more of the cigarette making machines stopsthere will be fewer cigarettes being fed along the path 38. A detectorarm 70, pivotally mounted at 71, (FIG. 4) rests on top of the cigarettesmoving along path 38 at a position where the cigarettes are guided intothe top of a vertical chute 72, through which the cigarettes pass ontothe conveyor 26. The side wall 73 of the chute 72 terminates at adistance above the conveyor 26, this distance determining the height ofthe continuous stream 28. Fewer cigarettes passing into the chute 72causes the arm 70 to move anticlockwise through a predetermined angleabout its pivot 71, and this movement is arranged, in any convenientmanner, to stop the drive unit 25 and thus make the loading station 2inoperative. However the cigarette packing machines will be keptrunning, via the unloading station 9, by using the filled containers inthe reserve R1.

As well as acting as a detector, as explained above, the detector arm 70also serves as a means for allowing the chute 72 to be increased in sizeduring each stationary period of the conveyor 26 under normal runningconditions. As each batch of cigarettes is being pushed into acompartment 18 of a container 12, cigarettes will still be moving alongpath 38, but will be stationary in the chute 72. The effect of this willbe that the flow of cigarettes along path 38 will cause the level of thecigarettes at the top of chute 72 to rise and the arm 70 will pivot in aclockwise direction as the cigarette level rises. On the next stepwisemovement of the conveyor 26, the cigarettes will again start to passalong chute 72 and the arm 70 will return to its previous position.

Conversely if the cigarette packing machine stops, the number ofcigarettes in the chute 62 will be increased, as batches of cigarettescontinue to be removed from the containers 12 at the unloading station9. Positioned above the top of chute 62 is a pair of coacting arms 74a,74b pivoted at 75a, 75b respectively, which will move about theirrespective pivots so as to increase the space above the chute 62. Whenthe arms 74a, 74b have moved through a predetermined angle, the driveunit 51 is stopped, in any convenient manner, and thus make theunloading station 9 inoperative. However the cigarette making machineswill be kept running as the loading station 2 can be supplied with emptycontainers from reserve R2. The space below arms 74a, 74b accommodates asufficient number of cigarettes to avoid interruption of flow to thepacking machine during the regular brief interruptions of supply as acontainer at the unloading station 9 is moved by the chain conveyors 7a,7b.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 14 and 15 which show a modified formof apparatus for carrying containers 112, which are identical to thecontainers 12 described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, to and frobetween a cigarette loading station and a cigarette unloading station.

In this form, the apparatus comprises a vertical conveyor 76, acigarette loading station 77, which is identical with the cigaretteloading station 2 (FIGS. 4 to 8), positioned alongside the conveyor 76,a drive unit 78 and three sets of guide rails 79 which are fixed to thefloor alongside the drive unit 78.

The apparatus just described serves for moving trolleys 80, which areeach adapted to carry a number of containers 112, stepwise past thelower end of the conveyor 76 so that the containers may be lifted fromthe trolley by the conveyor 76, one at a time, filled with cigarettes atthe loading station 77 and returned to the trolley.

Each trolley 80 consists of a base 81 at one end of the underside ofwhich two wheels 82 are fixed, a further wheel 83 being pivotallymounted centrally on the underside at the other end. Projecting upwardlyfrom the top of the base 81 is an open topped box-like structure 84having two side walls 85 and two end walls 86. Five internal partitions87 are mounted parallel to the end walls 86 so as to divide the interiorof the structure 84 into six chambers 88 of equal size, and of suchdimensions as to be capable of receiving a container 112 as will bedescribed later. The width of the chambers 88 i.e. the dimension shownin FIG. 15, is greater than that of the base 81 so that a part 89 of thestructure 84 overhangs the base at each side, the overhanging part 89being formed with a bottom wall 90 to fill the gap between the base 81and the side walls 85. The bottom wall 90 and each side walls 85 areprovided with slots 91 positioned at each end of each chamber 88. Thebase 81 is provided along one side with recesses 92, positioned in linewith the slots 91. Fixed to each end of the top of the base 81 againstthe end walls 86 is a block 93.

In operation a trolley 80, carrying six empty containers 112, one ineach of the chambers 88 is fed, by any convenient means, in thedirection of arrow E (FIG. 14) so that the wheels 82, 83 each engage aset of guide rails 79. The trolley is fed up to a predetermined positionso that the leading end face of the base 81 engages one of a pair ofpins 94 carried at diametrically opposed positions on a disc 95 drivenintermittently from the drive unit 78. The arrangement is such that oneach half revolution of the disc 95 the trolley will be moved, in thedirection of arrow E a distance equal to the pitch of the containers inthe chambers 88, the pins 94 entering successive recesses 92.

When the trolley comes to rest, after a number of half revolutions ofthe disc 95, so that a container 112 is positioned between a pair ofchains 76a, 76b, which make up the conveyor 76 the container is liftedvertically upwards out of its respective chamber 88. This is achieved bya pair of fingers 96 secured to the chains 76a, 76b which rise throughthe slots 91 to engage the bottom of the container 12, the chains 76a,76b being driven from a drive unit shown diagrammatically in FIG. 15 at97. The container 112 is lifted sufficiently to bring its lowestcompartment 118 opposite the cigarette loading station 77 and then thechains 76a, 76b are stopped. The compartments of the container are thenfilled in turn in the same manner as described previously with referenceto FIGS. 4 to 8, the chains 76a, 76b being driven intermittently in thereverse direction to lower the container in steps as its compartmentsare successively filled.

After all the compartments 18 have been filled the container 112 islowered, by the chains 76a, 76b, back into the chamber 88 from which itwas removed. After the container 112 has been replaced in its chamber 88the disc 95 is rotated a further half revolution to move the trolley onecontainer pitch and position the next empty container between the chains76a, 76b. When the trolley comes to rest after the fourth stepwisemovement of the disc 95 the recesses 92 are engaged by the pins 98 of afurther disc 99 which is driven, from the drive unit 78 in unison withthe disc 95.

The two discs 95, 99 are provided so that as one trolley approaches theend of its travel in the direction of arrow E under the influence of thedisc 99, a further trolley can be placed behind it and fed forwardlywith it. That is, whilst one trolley is still being fed forwardly by thepins 98 on disc 99, the recesses in the base of the further trolley willbe engaged by the pins 94 on disc 95, and so the two trolleys will beadvanced stepwise in synchronism.

The blocks 93 are provided so that when two trolleys are brought intocontact, as shown in FIG. 14, the gap between their respective bases 81provides a space equivalent to one of the recesses 92, said space beinghalfway between the last recess of one trolley and the first recess ofthe next trolley.

To prevent the cigarettes from falling out of the compartments 118whilst the trolley is being moved about, the partitions 87 may extendupwardly the full height of the containers 112, as shown in chain-dotlines at 100 in FIG. 14.

After all the containers in a trolley have been filled as describedabove, the trolley is disengaged from the rails 79 and moved eitherdirectly or via a store of trolleys to a position such that thecontainers 112 can be removed one at a time from the trolley, have thecigarettes removed from their compartments, and returned to the trolleyin the same manner as described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15,except that filled containers would be lifted from the trolley, emptiedat an unloading station, and empty containers returned to the trolleyfor subsequent return to the loading station 77. As the unloadingstation 77 is identical with the station 9 previously described, itsconstruction and operation will not be described or illustrated.

FIG. 16 shows a diagram of a suitable form of machine layout in whichapparatus as above described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 15 may beused.

Cigarettes from a cigarette making machine CM are fed, as a stream, to acigarette loading station LS in which empty containers are removedsuccessively from a trolley T, filled with cigarettes, and returned tothe trolley. When a trolley T has been filled with containers, eachfilled with cigarettes, the trolley is moved, as shown by the arrow, toa cigarette unloading station ULS in which filled containers aresuccessively removed from the trolley T, so that the cigarettes may beremoved and again formed into a stream, the now empty containers beingreplaced in the trolley T. The stream of cigarettes formed in theunloading station ULS is then fed to a packing machine PM. When all thecontainers in the trolley have been emptied the trolley is moved, asshown by the arrow, back to the loading station LS.

The loading station LS may be constructed and operated as describedabove with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8, the unloading station may beconstructed and operated as described above with reference to FIGS. 9 to13, and the construction and operation of the trolleys T may be asdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 14, 15.

With the apparatus so far described the loading and unloading stationsare at separate locations, and in the case of the apparatus describedwith reference to FIGS. 14, 15 the trolleys T have to be moved betweenthe loading and unloading stations.

However, it may be convenient, depending on the layout of a factory, touse apparatus according to the present invention in which the loadingand unloading stations are combined into a single unit. A diagram of asuitable form of machine layout in which a combined loading andunloading station is used, is shown in FIG. 17.

Cigarettes from a cigarette making machine CM1 are fed, as a stream, toa cigarette packing machine PM1, and any cigarettes being so fed, inexcess of the requirements of the packing machine are fed to a storageunit SU (to be described later), the flow of cigarettes to the unit SUbeing reversed, so that they are fed to the packing machine PM1, if thenumber of cigarettes coming from the machine CM1 drops below therequirements of the packing machine.

Examples of ways in which cigarettes may be formed into a stream and fedto a packing machine, with any excess of cigarettes being fed to astorage unit are described and illustrated in German OffenlegungsschriftNo. 1,957,002.

The present apparatus differs from that shown and described in the abovementioned application in that the storage unit SU is used instead of thehelical reservoir shown and described in the above mentionedapplication.

The construction and operation of storage unit SU will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 18, 19, 20, and 20A.

In order that the unit SU may either load cigarettes into, or removecigarettes from, a container, the container 12 previously described ismodified to the extent that the back wall 13 is removed, as are the lugs21. Such a modified container 120 is shown in FIG. 18 and consists oftwo side walls 121, a top wall 122 and a bottom wall 123. The interioris divided into four compartments 124 by partitions 125. Strips 126 areattached to the under-surface of the wall 122 and each of the partitions125, the strips 126 serving the same purpose as the strips 20 in thecontainer 12. A lug 127 is fixed to the outer surface of each of theside walls 121.

The storage unit SU is in the form of a combined loading and unloadingstation, and comprises an endless conveyor 128 provided with dividerplates 129 and a fixed cam 130. The construction of the conveyor 128 andthe divider plates 129 is the same as previously described withreference to FIGS. 4, 7 and 8 so will not be further described here. Theconveyor 128 is driven from a motor 144 by a chain 145. A reciprocatingpusher 131 is positioned adjacent the conveyor 128, the pusher beingconnected, by a connecting rod 132, to a crank disc 133 provided with aprojection 134, and drivingly connected to a motor 135 by a chain 136.

A pair of vertical endless chain conveyors 137 are positioned adjacentthe conveyor 128, but on the opposite side thereof to that of the pusher131, the chains 137 being spaced apart by a distance such that acontainer 120 may be raised or lowered, as will be described later, pastthe pusher 131. For this purpose each chain has a finger 138 fixed toit, which at appropriate times engages one of the lugs 127 on thecontainer 120. The chains 137 extend between lower freely rotatablesprockets 139, and upper sprockets 140, the latter being fixed to acommon drive shaft 141 which is driven from a motor 142 by a chain 143.

A further reciprocating pusher 146 is positioned opposite the pusher 131so that when the pusher 146 is at the limit of its movement to the right(as viewed in FIG. 20) there is room for a container 120 to be movedvertically between a short bridge piece 147 and the pusher 146. Thepusher 146 is connected, by a connecting rod 148, to a crank disc 149provided with a projection 150 and drivingly connected to a motor 151 bya chain 152. The bridge piece 147 is positioned between the edge of theconveyor 128 and a container 120 in the position at which a batch ofcigarettes is either pushed into or out of a compartment 124 by pushers131, 146 respectively, as will be described later.

Positioned below the conveyor 128 and extending along the floor betweenthe chain conveyors 137 are three sets of guide rails 153 along whichtrolleys 154 are moved stepwise by a pair of drive members 155 (whichcorrespond to the discs 95, 99 of FIGS. 14, 15), driven in unison from amotor 156 by chains 157. The construction of the trolley 154 is similarto the trolley 80 described with reference to FIGS. 14, 15 so will notbe described again here. However the trolley 154 has a number ofprojections 158 fixed to that side thereof nearest to the drive members155 as the trolley is moved along the rails 153, the number ofprojections corresponding to the number of containers 120 in the trolley154.

The operation of the storage unit SU will now be described. Referringfirst to FIG. 17, it will be assumed that the machine CM1 is producingcigarettes in excess of the number that machine PM1 is packing. Underthese conditions the excess of cigarettes is fed to the storage unit SU.

With this condition prevailing reference will now be made to FIGS. 19,20. It will be assumed that a container 120 is stationary and in aposition such that the lower most compartment 124 is opposite the pusher131.

The cigarettes are fed as a continuous stream onto conveyor 128, whichis driven by motor 144. The stream is divided into batches by dividerplates 129, as previously described with reference to FIGS. 4, 7 and 8.When two successive plates 129 have reached a position such that thebatch of cigarettes contained between them is opposite the lowermostcompartment 124 in the container 120, the leading plate 129 (consideredin the direction of movement of conveyor 128) of the pair of successiveplates operates a switch 159 which causes the motor 144, and thereforealso the conveyor 128, to stop and the motor 135 to start. This causesthe pusher 131, by means of the crank 133, to move to the right in FIG.20 and push the batch of cigarettes off the conveyor 128, across thebridge piece 147, and into the waiting compartment 124. Before thepusher 131 is fully returned to its starting position the projection 134on crank 133 operates a switch 160 which causes motors 142 and 144 tostart and motor 135 to stop. Motor 142 causes the chains 137 to move sothat the container 120 moves vertically downwards until the containeroperates a switch 161 which stops motor 142, at which time the nextcompartment 124 is positioned opposite the pusher 131. At the same timethe next batch of cigarettes is being formed, as previously described,on conveyor 128. As the container starts to move downwards, a switch 162causes switch 160 to be by-passed and motor 135 to start, which bringsthe pusher 131 back to its starting position. When the pusher 131reaches this position the projection 134 disengages from switch 160which causes motor 135 to stop. The tray remains stationary until thenext divider plate 129 operates switch 159 and the cycle of operationsabove described is repeated to fill the next compartment 124. After thiscycle of operations has been carried out four times all fourcompartments in the container will be filled with cigarettes. It shouldbe noted that the container is stopped during each cycle after the firstcycle of operations by successive switches 161, 163 and 164, and it isthese switches in turn which cause the switch 160 to be by-passed, asexplained above, so that the pusher 131 may always be returned to itsstarting position.

After the container 120 has been completely filled with cigarettes themotor 142 will be started, as described above, and the container will bemoved vertically downwards until it comes to rest in the trolley 154. Atthis time chains 137 are still moving and the fingers 138 move away fromthe lugs 127 until one of them operates a switch 165 which causes themotor 142 and therefore the chains 137 to stop.

When the trolley 154 arrived at the position shown in FIG. 20 one of theprojections 158 on the trolley operated a switch 166 (FIG. 19) whichstopped the motor 156 and therefore the trolley.

Operation of switch 165 by a finger 138 also causes the switch 166 to beby-passed and the motor 156 to start. This causes the drive members 155to rotate and the trolley 154 will be moved, as described with referenceto FIGS. 14, 15, to position the next empty container between the chains137. When the trolley reaches this position the next projection 158operates switch 166 which causes motor 156 to stop, and the motor 142 tostart but this time in the opposite direction, so that the fingers 138engage the lugs 127 on the empty container and lift it upwards away fromthe trolley. The container is lifted upwards until it operates switch162 which causes the motor 142 to stop. When this happens the lowermostcompartment in the container is positioned opposite the pusher 131.Whilst the change of containers, as just described, has been takingplace the next batch of cigarettes has been formed and the switch 159operated. The arrangement however, is such that the motor 135 will notstart until the empty container has operated switch 162. All the timethat the condition of the machines CM1 and PM1 is such that the machineCM1 is producing an excess of cigarettes to the requirements of themachine PM1, the above described operations will continue and a store ofcigarettes will be built up in the unit SU. The operations describedabove will also occur if, for some reason the packing machine stops. Inthis case however, the whole of the output of the machine CM1 will befed to the storage unit SU.

The unit SU can also be used to remove batches of cigarettes from thecompartments 124 and reform the stream on the conveyor 128, the streamthen being fed away from the unit SU to the machine PM1. This conditionbecomes necessary if, for example, the machine CM1 stops, so that nocigarettes are being fed to the machine PM1. When this condition occursa signal is generated at the machine CM1 which causes the motors 144,142 and 156 to drive the parts to which they are connected in thereverse direction to that in which they were driven as described above.The signal from the machine CM1 also causes the motor 135 to be isolatedand the motor 151 to be brought into operation.

The sequence of operations is in the main the same as the sequencealready described except that containers filled with cigarettes areremoved from the trolley, and the pusher 146 is operated instead ofpusher 131. As each compartment 124 is stopped opposite the pusher 146and two successive plates 129 are opposite the compartment 124, thetrailing plate 129 (considered in the direction of movement of conveyor128) operates switch 159 to start motor 151 and cause pusher 146 to pushthe batch of cigarettes out of the compartment 124 and onto the conveyor128 between the two plates 129. The operation of the pusher 146 is thesame as previously described with respect to pusher 131. As the conveyoris moved, and thus also the batch of cigarettes contained betweensuccessive pairs of plates 129, the leading plate 129 (considered in thedirection of movement of the conveyor 128) will be withdrawn, by runningdown the fixed cam 130, below the upper run of conveyor 128 so that acontinuous stream of cigarettes is reformed and fed towards the machinePM1 for subsequent packing.

As described above, when the unit SU is being used to remove cigarettesfrom the compartments 124, the container is moved stepwise downwards bythe conveyor 137. However, it could be arranged that the cigarettes beremoved from the container as the latter is moved stepwise upwards. Inthis case a set of switches and associated circuitry, similar to thatshown in FIGS. 19-20A would be necessary, the switches being theequivalent of switches 162, 161, 163, 164 and positioned so that theywould be operated in turn as the container moves upwards after eachcompartment had been emptied of cigarettes.

The storage unit SU will continue removing batches of cigarettes fromcontainers until the machine CM1 again starts to supply cigarettes tothe machine PM1, at which time the motors 144, 142 and 156 are againreversed and the unit SU will again start to fill containers withcigarettes as described above. The arrangement is such that the unit SUcan at any stage of its operation be reversed from filling to emptyingcontainers, or vice-versa.

It should be noted that a container such as described with reference toFIG. 18 could be used in conjunction with the machine layout shown inFIG. 16. In this case the unloading station ULS is modified by removingthe scoop 55 (FIGS. 10 to 13) and using the stripper 56 as a pusher toremove the batch of cigarettes from a compartment of a container bypushing them in the same direction, relative to the stationarycontainer, as that in which they were moved when being pushed into thecontainer in the loading station LS. This, of course, necessitates thecontainers being moved vertically between the stripper 56 and theconveyor 52.

The arrangement of machines shown in FIG. 17 may be modified in avariety of ways. For example, a plurality of machines CM1 and PM1 may belinked to a single unit SU to provide a cigarette making and packingsystem. A number of such systems may be provided, along with a separatepacking only system, which consists of one or more packing machineslinked to a single storage unit SU. With this arrangement the separatepacking system may be kept operating by moving trolleys, from any numberof the making and packing systems, to the single storage unit. Trolleysmay also be moved from one making and packing system to any other,depending on the operating conditions prevailing in each system. Withthis arrangement of machines, each of the units SU will be eitherfeeding cigarettes to, or removing cigarettes from, containers, againdepending on the operating conditions prevailing in each system.

FIG. 20A is a schematic diagram of electric circuits embodying thevarious switches and motors referred to above and need not be describedin detail as the circuit arrangement shown is only what is necessary tocause the operations described above. It is noted that in addition tothe switches already identified by reference to other Figures, FIG. 20Aincludes a relay which has a coil R and five contact pairs R1-R5inclusive; said relay in conventional manner prevents energisation ofthe motors in such manner as to produce conflicting movements of partsof the apparatus.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of conveying cigarettes or otherrod-like articles comprising the steps of conveying a stream of rod-likearticles towards a loading station in a direction transverse to theirlengths, forming the articles into confined batches, moving successivebatches into containers at the loading station, moving containers filledwith batches of articles away from the loading station, delivering asuccession of containers filled with batches of articles to an unloadingstation at which the batches of articles are pushed successively out ofthe containers and are received by retaining means, and conveying fromthe unloading station, as a continuous stream, the articles received bythe retaining means.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which a commonstation serves as the loading and unloading station and in which thepath of said stream being conveyed towards the loading station and thepath of said stream being conveyed away from the loading station have acommon portion over which the articles are conveyed in a directiondepending on whether batches are being separated from or reformed intosaid stream.
 3. A method of handling rod-like articles comprising thesteps of conveying a continuous stream of rod-like articles between atleast one article producing machine and at least one article packingmachine, and controlling the net flow of rod-like articles in saidstream by transferring rod-like articles from the stream into one ormore containers to vary said flow and by transferring rod-like articlesfrom a container into the stream as required to vary said flow, andfurther comprising transferring articles to or from a container in asubsidiary stream which joins said stream, and conveying said subsidiarystream in opposite directions depending on whether rod-like articles arebeing transferred to or from a container.
 4. A method of handlingrod-like articles comprising the steps of conveying a stream of rod-likearticles away from at least one article producing machine and towards atleast one article packing machine, transferring articles directly fromsaid stream into a container, transferring articles directly to saidstream from a container so that articles from said container aresubsequently conveyed in a continuous stream toward said article packingmachine or machines, conveying empty containers and full containers froman external source of containers into position for said respectivetransfer of articles, and controlling the transfer of articles to orfrom the stream to adjust the net flow of said stream from the producingmachine or machines according to the demand of the packing machine ormachines.
 5. A method according to claim 4 including the step of movinga container intermittently through a transfer position with said stream.6. A method according to claim 4 including the step of transferringbatches of articles which comprise complete sections of said stream. 7.A method according to claim 6 wherein the batches are transferred in adirection parallel to the lengths of the articles in said stream.
 8. Amethod according to claim 4, wherein the stream comprises a multi-layerstack of articles, further comprising the step of dividing said streaminto batches for transfer into a container by progressively separatingsaid stream into batches as it is conveyed away from said producingmachine or machines.
 9. A method of handling rod-like articlescomprising the steps of conveying a stream in the form of a multi-layerstack of rod-like articles away from at least one article producingmachine and towards at least one article packing machine, transferringarticles directly from said stream into a container, forming adiscontinuity in said stream, transferring articles directly to saidstream from a container by transferring a batch of articles from acontainer into a space constituting said discontinuity, reforming acontinuous stream including said batch, conveying empty containers andfull containers from an external source of containers into position forsaid respective transfer of articles, and controlling the transfer ofarticles to or from the stream to adjust the net flow of said streamfrom the producing machine or machines according to the demand of thepacking machine or machines.
 10. A method according to claim 9, whereinsaid discontinuity is defined by spaced retaining means, including thestep of progressively withdrawing said retaining means from the streamas the stream is conveyed towards the packing machine or machines.
 11. Amethod of handling rod-like articles comprising the steps of conveying astream of rod-like articles away from at least one article producingmachine, successively transferring articles from said stream intocontainers, successively transferring articles from said containers toreform a continuous stream of articles from batches of articles in thecontainers, conveying said continuous stream to at least one articlepacking machine, and controlling the transfer of articles to or fromcontainers according to the production of the producing machine ormachines and the demand of the packing machine or machines.